• Naval Warfare

  Exail selected to enhance navigation capabilities of the French Navy’s OPV

  6th September 2024

  Naval Group has selected the high-tech industrial group to provide its Phins Inertial Navigation Systems and Netans Data Distribution Units to French OPVs.

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales selected for Syracuse satellite communications terminals for French vehicles

  15th July 2024

  The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.

• Naval Warfare

  Thales to test passive sonar on Naval Group large uncrewed underwater vessel

  11th July 2024

  Naval Group’s extra-large uncrewed underwater vessel (XL-UUV) demonstrator, which completed sea qualification in mid-2023, is a key component of the French defence procurement agency’s (DGA’s) Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator project.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Counter-UAS laser being considered for use at Paris Olympics

  19th June 2024

  Cilas is showcasing its HELMA-P counter-UAS laser weapon at Eurosatory 2024 – which is being considered for use at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – to detect, track and neutralise drones up to 1km away.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurodrone offers boost to European defence industry

  15th June 2024

  Joint European project to create MALE UAV has led to major job generation and offered a significant supply chain boost to the continent’s defence industry.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurodrone offers boost to European defence industry

  15th June 2024

  Joint European project to create MALE UAV has led to major job generation and offered a significant supply chain boost to the continent’s defence industry.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurodrone offers boost to European defence industry

  15th June 2024

  Joint European project to create MALE UAV has led to major job generation and offered a significant supply chain boost to the continent’s defence industry.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurodrone offers boost to European defence industry

  15th June 2024

  Joint European project to create MALE UAV has led to major job generation and offered a significant supply chain boost to the continent’s defence industry.

• Land Warfare

  Team Auroch bids for future French Army requirement

  16th September 2024

  KNDS-France has teamed up with Texelis and CNIM to combine their experiences and produce a new combat engineer vehicle for the French Army.

• Land Warfare

  French Army to receive 109 CAESAR MkII howitzers from 2026

  3rd February 2024

  Nexter’s Caesar (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) 6x6, a 155mm/52cal weapon mounted on a Renault Trucks Defense 6x6 Sherpa chassis,

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Group builds underwater drone demonstrator for France

  31st January 2024

  France has awarded a contract to Naval Group to continue the exploration of autonomous underwater capabilities for the French Navy.

• Air Warfare

  Dassault grabs $5.5 billion French contract for 42 Rafale fighter

  15th January 2024

  France recently announced a $5.5 billion contract with Dassault Aviation for the procurement of 42 Rafale F4 standard fighter jets as global demand for the platform remains high.

• Land Warfare

  MBDA and Saab strengthen partnership on anti-tank and air defence systems

  31st January 2024

  MBDA and Saab have solidified their partnership in anti-tank and air defence capabilities as they attempt to enhance military readiness amid escalating threats in high-intensity conflicts.

• Naval Warfare

  France orders seven offshore patrol vessels

  24th November 2023

  The first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 10 OPVs are expected to be in service by 2035. They are intended to replace the high seas patrol vessels based in Brest and Toulon, as well as the Cherbourg public service patrol boats.

• Land Warfare

  Texelis goes alone as it unveils Celeris

  28th November 2023

  Texelis and Nexter, a KNDS company, manufacture the Serval 4x4 lightweight multi-role armoured vehicle together but Texelis has started selling the rolling chassis of the vehicle as a separate system.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi - Announced Units (France)

  Programme Background Requriment In February 2020, the French DGA procurement agency released a tender calling for a quadcopter micro UAS to equip all branches of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi - Completed Units (France)

  Programme Background Requriment In February 2020, the French DGA procurement agency released a tender calling for a quadcopter micro UAS to equip all branches of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  SMDM / Aliaca Evo [France]

  Programme Background First Contract In February 2021, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced a €19.7 million ($23.30 million) contract it had awarded Survey Copter, a subsidiary of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM) [France]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme is a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration capable of hosting a range of payloads. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S [France]

  Programme Background Following the announcement of the 14-ship contract, the DGA approved the design of the first two standard amphibious landing craft (EDA-S) in October 2019, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  SNLE 3G (1-4) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements Included in the 2019-2025 Military Plan Law is the replacement of the four Le Triomphant-class SSBNs with four third-generation SSBNs (SNLE 3G) beginning ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces (France)

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | MQ-25 Stingray [France]

  In a March 2021 presentation, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) exhibited preliminary designs for the French Navies New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG). The presentation, published ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | MQ-25 Stingray [France]

  In a March 2021 presentation, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) exhibited preliminary designs for the French Navies New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG). The presentation, published ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  MPME

  Safran Electronics & Defense has developed the MPME (Module de préparation de mission pour equipages d’hélicoptères) mission planning system for use by French Army Gazelle, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Aliaca Evo

  The Aliaca Evo, or DVF 2000 VT, is an electrically powered mini-UAV designed to perform ISR missions, coastal surveillance, convoy protection and powerline and pipeline monitoring. Between ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Repace

  The Repace is a hydrogen-powered drone that the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) unveiled in November 2023. The drone's development was led by reeachers from the Centre de ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Matrice 600

  The Matrice 600, or M600, is a DJI rotary-wing UAV designed primarily for professional aerial photography and industrial applications. It was designed to closely integrate various ...

• Major networking projects

  MOIE SIC Terre

  In January 2005, France’s DGA defence procurement agency awarded Thales (70%), and partner EADS DCS (30%), a $230 million contract for the MOIE SIC Terre ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manta

  Manta is a laser-based DIRCM system for airborne platforms. Designed to defeat first- and second-generation and imaging IR seekers, it is said to be effective ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Fire Multi Function Radar

  The Sea Fire is a four-panel S-band 4D AESA radar developed by Thales and unveiled in 2014. This S-band radar is designed to outfit vessels displacing ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) - ITC 15

  In March 2018, the French DGA awarded a contract to Ufast for the construction of 12 VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) fast patrol boats. The ...

• Land: battle management systems

  COFEUX

  COFEUX is a tactical situation management system developed for French Army helicopters (Tiger and NH90). It includes a digital mapping module with an ‘inter-visibility’ function ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  EOMS NG

  The naval EO Multifunction System (EOMS) combines long-range IR search and tracker and gunfire direction to detect and engage shore, surface or airborne targets, particularly sea-skimming ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  nEUROn

  The nEUROn is an experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed with international cooperation to create a stealthy, autonomous UAV that can function in medium- ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  VBMR-L Serval

  In February 2018, France's DGA defence procurement agency selected Nexter, in partnership with Texelis, to develop and produce the 4x4 Lightweight Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (VBMR-L) lightweight ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  Paseo XLR

  The Paseo XLR (Extra Long Range) is the latest member of Safran Electronics & Defense’s shipborne sighting system, which joins the Vigy Observer/Engage and the ...

• Major networking projects

  COMCEPT

  In February 2013, the French DGA defence procurement agency awarded Astrium (now Airbus Defence & Space), and its partner ACTIA Sodielec (now ACTIA Telecom), a ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers, Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SPECTRA

  Thales’ SPECTRA (Rafale Fire Control Radar Protection and Avoidance System) is the Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) used by the Dassault Rafale series of combat aircraft. ...